FIRST JOB MEMORY // Do you remember your first job? 🤔 I spoke with Graeme Goodings on 📻 Nova Entertainment’s Five AA Radio Adelaide Mornings program and we discussed a lot of topics!

✅ my first job – babysitting and then working for Westpac full time six days after my last Year 12 exam (and studying part time)
✅ how a first job underpins your future – and how I learnt so much in 11 years
✅ overcoming the perception I would run off and have babies
✅ enjoying a variety of roles and gaining wide experience
✅ more diversity in one role in Adelaide compared to Melbourne due to smaller population
✅ skills learnt in fast food stores that can be useful throughout life thanks to procedures, processes and training
✅ moving to skills-based recruitment now rather than being recognised for a good job title and employer brand
✅ younger workers need to be able to demonstrate their skills
✅ Westpac Research that shows Australia-wide 27% of people have side hustles
✅ gig economy jobs part of the first job mix
✅ anecdotal evidence that before COVID, Year 12 students were unlikely to consider starting a business, post COVID, more are
✅ Adapt Research that shows with the increasing use of AI, younger workers and women are most affected
✅ AI making new opportunities for people who can use it
✅ Not rely on learning exclusively on the job, will need to continue learning throughout your working life
✅ People who can earn income are those that can adapt and use new technology
✅ Difficulty of choosing a job if AI could replace the job
✅ Mid 20’s person who changed from a business analysis role to being an electrician
✅ finding out what organisations are doing where you would like to work
✅ a large consulting firm calculating how many full time equivalent employee hours the AI replaces but still charging for those employee hours
✅ as a young person understand where are the jobs going to be and how do I develop the skills for those jobs
✅ an anecdotal story of two children in trades (always in work) and two gaining higher education (in and out of work)
✅ as you grow older, being too expensive for an average job and not wanting to go back to basic things
✅ need to plan your career
✅ can work with a professional Career Development Practitioner to find aligned opportunities and get help to manage each transition
✅ can do low cost or free short courses and micro credentials to change roles or industries
✅ although we are going through rapid change, still plenty of options around
✅ we are taught how to do a job but not find a job (a different skillset)
✅ convey your transferable skills to a new employer
✅ many employers hire for cultural fit, not just skills
✅ build your own network and keep in touch with people
✅ a ‘job for now’ is perfectly fine to get you out of the house and earning an income
✅ building your own networks if you work from home and looking for work close to home

It was great to hear Peter’s story about selling newspapers at traffic lights and Mary as a secretary in an insurance company! Stacey started at Hungry Jack’s and had a lot of fun and learnt how to work with people. Graeme started out in the circulation department at The Age Newspaper!

Thanks to Producer Sam Daddow for reaching out!

➡️ Whole show at https://fiveaa.com.au/podcast/mornings-with-graeme-goodings/af8325c8-3911-4206-895a-7fa064a282ec/2026-05-28/mornings-with-graeme-goodings-28-may-2026

You can listen to my part between 100:30 and 111:34

#fiveaa #firstjob #careers #sueellson